Top 10 Oscar Winning Movies that BOMBED at the Box Office
#10: “West Side Story” (2021)
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Pairing Steven Spielberg with a beloved musical should’ve been a slam dunk. And it was, at least in terms of industry recognition. In fact, “West Side Story” danced all the way to seven Oscar nominations and even a win for Ariana DeBose’s star-making turn as Anita. However, the box office receipts tell a very different story. Audiences gave the movie a massive shrug on its opening weekend, and it failed to leg-out even over the lucrative Christmas season. By the time all was said and done, “West Side Story’s” meager returns couldn’t even cover its production costs. It still took home some gold, just not the kind that helps Spielberg’s wallet.
#9: “The Wolfman” (2010)
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Period horror and negative reviews don’t exactly yell “Oscar winner.” At least, that’s what audiences thought. So, despite a flashy, effects-driven marketing campaign, 2010’s “The Wolfman” was a complete flop at the box office. Given that its budget was $150 million, it seemed the movie was destined to go down as one of the biggest failures of the 21st century. But, just when the prognosis was at its worst, a surprise Oscar win for Best Makeup saved “The Wolfman” from complete embarrassment. No, it doesn’t reimburse the studio for the millions of dollars they lost. But, if Universal Pictures can’t dry their tears with cash, an Academy Award is the next best thing.
#8: “What Dreams May Come” (1998)
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Named after Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, this film asked a very simple question: to be or not to be? The answer, however, is a bit complicated. On one hand, the movie’s acclaimed VFX earned it plenty of buzz and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. But, all that CGI came with a heavy price tag. And, unfortunately, both critics and audiences agreed the film played more like a feature-length VFX reel. So, amidst middling reviews and lackluster fan reception, “What Dreams May Come” failed to recoup its expensive investment in theaters. Despite the Oscar win, it’s clear that audiences thought this one was “not to be.”
#7: “Ed Wood” (1994)
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In a way, the Academy Awards is a roundabout method for Hollywood to pat itself on the back. So, it’s no surprise that a movie based on an infamous filmmaker took home two major trophies at the 67th Oscars Ceremony. However, just because Hollywood loved “Ed Wood” (the movie) doesn’t mean audiences felt the same. Even though the film had a modest budget of just $18 million, it failed to amass even half of that at the domestic box office. You can point the finger at its comparatively limited release, but that doesn’t change the fact that a film with this much acclaim should’ve done much, much better.
#6: “Almost Famous” (2000)
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Coincidentally, this film’s title pretty much sums up the fate of its initial release. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Almost Famous” drew unanimous praise for its humor, performances, and heartfelt story. Then, it coasted on the glowing reviews all the way to an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. But, despite its clear artistic merits, the low-stakes story failed to convince audiences it was a theater-worthy experience. So, even when including international grosses, “Almost Famous” was a complete financial trainwreck. At the very least, audiences did end up discovering it eventually. Nowadays, it’s rightfully considered one of the best films of the 2000s.
#5: “Blade Runner 2049” (2017)
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At a time when reboots were all the craze, bringing Harrison Ford back in one of his most iconic roles sounded like an easy win. And, from a craft perspective, this long-awaited sequel completely exceeded expectations. While the original was well-reviewed, “2049” ended up with more Oscar nominations, and even took home two. Alas, despite the rave reviews, “Blade Runner 2049” failed to deliver the popcorn entertainment that viewers clearly wanted. Since the sci-fi epic was a very costly production, too, it’s been estimated that the low audience turnout ended up costing investors as much as $80 million. “Blade Runner 2049” may be an Oscar darling, but it’s also an unmitigated bomb at the exact same time.
#4: “Hugo” (2011)
Most awards films would kill for a final box office tally in the low nine-figure range. But, since “Hugo” cost upwards of $150 million to make, it needed to do a whole lot better than that to break even. It’s still something of a mystery as to why audiences rejected Martin Scorsese’s family film. After all, it was a total awards juggernaut, earning a staggering eleven Oscar nominations and five wins; it clearly wasn’t a matter of quality. Rather, many presume that stiff competition over the holiday frame slashed its box office prospects. That, when paired with its expensive 3D visuals, meant “Hugo” never got the chance it deserved.
#3: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
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Despite its name, this classic Christmas film’s release wasn’t anywhere near “wonderful.” The studio clearly had big hopes for the movie, and mounted a massive promotional blitz for its awards campaign. Unfortunately, due to a strong slate of competitors, “It’s a Wonderful Life” only walked away with a Technical Achievement Oscar. Alas, there was no Christmas miracle to save its profits, either. In its initial theatrical run, “It’s a Wonderful Life” barely earned back half of what it needed to make it into the black. Thankfully, when it entered public domain in 1974, the film’s royalty-free broadcasts earned it a deserved legacy as one of greatest movies of all time.
#2: “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
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Dorothy’s trek on the yellow brick road is one of the most popular films ever made, but it sure didn’t start out that way. Its groundbreaking use of Technicolor and special effects meant it needed a big audience turnout to come away with any cash. Unfortunately, despite an Academy Award for Best Original Song, “The Wizard of Oz” failed to enchant viewers at first. It took a re-release a decade later for the film to finally see its first profits. From there, home video sales and licensing fees turned the flop into a bonafide classic. Even though it didn’t seem so at first, it’s obvious that “Oz” was worth visiting, after all. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “The Young Victoria” (2009) The Immaculate Costumes Weren’t Enough to Save This Period Piece “Girl, Interrupted” (1999) Even With Its Amazing Performances, This Drama Was Criminally Overlooked Upon Release “Phantom Thread” (2017) The Academy Loved This Movie, but Audiences Yawned Through It “The Age of Innocence” (1993) Despite Its Excellent Reviews, Moviegoers Were Oddly Muted About This Historical Drama #
1: “Citizen Kane” (1941)
It’s a sad reality that sometimes good films fail and bad ones succeed. But, there’s truly no reason why “Citizen Kane” should’ve lost money at the box office. While no one could’ve foreseen its influence on cinema, its Oscar win should’ve at least earned it some respect. Unfortunately, the film faced heavy controversy for its commentary on contemporary media tycoons. Allegedly, some theater chains even refused to screen “Citizen Kane” for fear of backlash. So, shamefully, most audiences never gave it a fair shake. The only small justice is that its enduring acclaim turned “Citizen Kane” from a box office bomb into a legendary staple of film history.
